Last week a friend of mine passed away after several
years of battling with Parkinson’s disease. And as I mulled over times spent
with him, one memory stood out above the rest. It was a conversation we had
where I listened as he shared about the challenges he was having with one of
his sons.
This young man was determined to live in rebellion and that
irked dad. He didn’t like the rebellion being thrown his way, but what really
bothered him was rebellion toward the Lord.
So, the two of them had many conversations where dad tried to get son to
“see the light” and yield himself to the Lord. But the boy wasn’t having any of
it.
Finally dad, who was a bit exasperated, finally said,
“You just need to surrender.”
That word – surrender – stuck with me. I hadn’t thought
about my walk with Christ being an act of surrender. But it truly is. Each of
us have an independent streak in us. We like control. We like to do it
ourselves. Set the rules. Evaluate the results. Determine the outcome. Etc.
Sometimes we see that better in the lives of someone
else…
This morning I was reading the story of Ahab and Jehoshaphat.
Allies based on convenience rather than common sense. Ahab was the king over
the ten northern tribes of Israel – and if you looked up “rotten king” in the
dictionary you’d find and picture of him.
Jehoshaphat was king over the other two tribes – Judah and Benjamin –
and was basically a “good king.”
Well, one day as Jehoshaphat and Ahab were sitting together
talking about “king stuff”, when Ahab asked a question. “I’m going to attack
Ramoth Gilead. Would you and your troops be willing to join me?” And
without hesitation, Jehoshaphat agreed, “I am as you are, and my people as your
people – we are in.” But before we fight
let’s check with God.
Now when Jehoshaphat said, “I am as you are…” he was leaving
out one very important difference. Jehoshaphat served God in Heaven, but Ahab
worshipped Baal and Asherah, among others. So when Ahab agreed to a consult it
was check in with a god made of wood and stone.
Well that god said what it always said – exactly what the
“prophet” wanted it say. In this case the “answer” was “Go to war! You’ll win a
great victory.”
Well, Jehoshaphat wasn’t satisfied, so he asked if Ahab had
anyone who could speak to the God in Heaven. Well there was one guy left in
Ahab’s kingdom. Just one guy! But Ahab
didn’t like him because advice from this guy always conflicted with what Ahab
wanted to do. But Ahab relented. And
this prophet was called in.
When the prophet arrived he also was asked “Do we go to
war or hold back?” And the initial
response was sarcasm “Sure, knock yourselves out. You’ll win.” But when pressed for a serious response the
prophet said, “Listen to what the Lord says! I saw the Lord
sitting on his throne with all the armies of heaven around him, on his right
and on his left. And the Lord said, ‘Who
can entice King Ahab of Israel to go into battle against Ramoth-Gilead so he
can be killed?’
“There were many
suggestions, and finally a spirit approached the Lord and said, ‘I can do it!’ “‘How will you do this?’ the Lord asked. “And
the spirit replied, ‘I will go out and inspire all of Ahab’s prophets to speak
lies.’ “‘You will succeed,’ said the Lord. ‘Go ahead and do it.’ “So
you see, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouths of your prophets. For
the Lord has pronounced your doom.”
So what happened next?
Well the prophet was thrown in jail. Then the armies of Israel and Judah
marched out to fight. And, during the battle a stray arrow from the enemy
struck Ahab between the joints of his armor and he died. A lucky shot? I don’t
think so!
Surrender would have been the best option. Not during the
battle, but instead of it!
I loved the fact that Jehoshaphat thought of asking God
before acting. (In my independence I’ve been known to forget this part.) But when God spoke both of them chose to go
ahead and do what they already had in mind. (I wonder if God ever thinks “If
you are going to do whatever you want then why do you ask Me what I think!)
Try as we might we are not independent. We don’t know best.
We don’t wield absolute control. Whether we recognize it or not, we are
dependent beings. Without God we are not!
So let’s surrender and yield control to the One in control!
Ron
